Wire-winding machine.



C. L. VANv AMBURGH.

WIRE WINDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR-3h 1916.

1,250,705. Patented Dec. 18,1917.

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VIII/IIIIIIII\ v =3 I r I V/ /f 1% $L I a w 20 24 v WITNESSES I INVENTOR /fl4 fia /wz/zawday/z BY% F C. L. VAN AMBURGH.

WIRE WINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3|. me.

Patented Dec.18,191 7.

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lhllllHlllHli WITNESS .8

INVENTOH WWW W nan/ms cHAnLEs L. VAN AMBURGH, or TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

WIRE-WINDING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. VAN

A AMBURGH, a citizen of the United States,

and a resident of Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented a new and Improved Wire-Winding Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to-provide a new and improved wire winding machine more especially designed for winding a wire helically around a stave pipe while the latter is being assembled in a ditch or other place, allow of conveniently placing the machine in position at any point in the length of the pipe, or removing it therefrom whenever it is desired to do so.

In order to accomplish the desired result, use is made of a wire-feeding drum through which extends the stave pipe or other article .to be wound with a wire, and means for imparting a helical motion to the said drum around the article.

' A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a reduced side elevation of the wire winding machine as applied to a stave pipe for winding a wire helically around the same; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the wire winding machine as applied;

Fig. 3 is a frontv end view of the same with the stave pipe shown in cross section;

Fig.4 is, an enlarged sectional side elevation of the same;

Fig. 5 is a face view of the reel for carrying the wire;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the wire-feeding drum;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the frame;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the drum wheels andits mounting;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section of a portion of the drum and the tension device for the wire;

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of'a portion of the driving mechanism for the frame as applied and with a portion of the stave pipe shown in section; and

Fig.'11 is a side elevation of the mecha nism for driving the machine by hand.

Heretofore it has been customary, in mak- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Deg, 18 1917, Application filed March 31, 1916. Serial No. 88,09. I

ing wooden stave pipes, to manufacture them in a factory in certain lengths and ship them to the point where they are to be laid, providing each length with a suitable collar whereby it may be fastened to the adjacent length. This 'method has two disadvan-' tages: One is that each joint unless it is perfectly made sets up an appreciable resistance to the flow of the water through the pipe, and the other is that the freight and delivery charges on the finished pipe amount to a considerable sum, especially if the pipe has to be laid in an undeveloped country without roads. To overcome these objections I have devised this machine which will permit the manufacture of the pipe on the ground, it being only necessary to transport the staves, of which the pipe is to be tinuous structure having a much greater strength and less resistance to the flow of water, and therefore greater capacity, than the pipe made up of lengths as in the present practice. a The wire-winding machine in its general construction consists of a wire-feeding drum 20 through which extends centrally a stave pipe '21 or other similar article, and the said drum 20 serves to tightly draw a wire 22 helic'ally around the stave pipe 21 with aview to bind the staves in'position and to strongly reinforce the pipe to withstand the pressure ofthe water or other fluid passing through the pipe. The drum 20 is mounted to rotate and to travel bodily in the direction of the length of the pipe 21, that is, in the direction of the arrow at so that for this double movement the wire is helically drawn around the pipe 21; The wire-feeding drum 20 is supported in spaced relation to the pipe 21, and for this purpose the drum 20 is pro-' vided with Wheels 23 traveling on the peripheral face of the pipe 21. One end of the feeding drum 20 is provided exteriorly with ball bearings 24 on which is mounted a tubular frame 25 through which extends Cellt-rally the pipe 21, the said tubular frame in the direction of the arrow a whereby the feeding drum'20 is bodily carried along in \wheel 26 is in mesh with a pinion 27 sebracket 56 attached. to the frame 25.

cured on a shaft 28 extending longitudinally and journaled in a suitable bearing 29 attached to or forming part of the frame 25. The shaft 28 is rotated either by a motor 30 as illustrated in Fig. 1, or by hand power. The motor 30 is preferably an electric mot-or connected by wires 31 with a suitablesource of electrical energy and the motor shaft 32 is provided with a worm 33 in mesh with a worm wheel 34 secured on the shaft 28, thus when th motor 30 is running a rotary motion is given to the shaft 28, and the latters pinion 27 rotates the gear Wheel 26 and consequently the wire-feeding drum 20. In case hand power is used, as shown in Fig. 11, then the shaft '28 is connected by a universal joint 35 with a shaft36 journaled'in a suitable bearing 37 attached to an extension 38 of the bearing 29. The shaft 36 is provided with a suitable hand wheel 39,1 1nder the control of an operator for turning the shaft 36 with a view to rotate the shaft 28 and consequently the feeding drum 20, as above mentioned.

The rearward traveling movement given to the frame 25 is actuated from the gear wheel 26 and for this purpose the following arrangement is made: The gear Wheel 26 is in mesh with a gear wheel 40 secured on a shaft 41, journaled in a bearing 42 attached to the frame 25. The shaft 41 is connected by a double universal joint43 with a shaft 44, journaled in bearings 45 mounted in a housing 46 having a bracket 47 attached to the frame 25. The shaft 44 within the housing 46 is provided with a worm 50in mesh with a. worm wheel 51 secured on a transverse shaft 52 j ouri'ialed in. the housing 46. Each outer end of the shaft 52 is connected by a universal joint 53 with ,a shaft 54 journaled in bearings 55 held on a On this shaft 54 between the bearings 55 is secured a spike Wheel 5.7 having spikes 58 adapted to engage the peripheral face of the pipe 21 so that when the spike wheel 57 is rotated in the direction of the arrow b then th frame 25 is moved rearwardly in the direction of the arrow a. A number of spike wheels 57 are arranged around the pipe 21 and connected with each other at their shafts by links 60 and a universal joint 61 so that several spike wheels 57 are rotated in unison whenever the shaft 52 is rotated.

as previously explained. It is understood that when the machine is running and the gear wheel 26 is rotated then a rotary motion is transmitted by the gear. wheel 40 to the shaft 41 which by the universal joint 43 rotates the shaft 44 and the latter by the worm 50 and worm wheel 51 rotates the shaft 52. By arranging the spike wheels 57 in spaced relation around the pipe 21 it is evident that the frame 25 is moved rearwardly and without danger of the frame turning on its axis. From the foregoing it will be seen that by the arrangement described the wire-feeding drum 20 is rotated on its axis and is moved bodily in arearward directionby the frame 25 held against rotation. Each ,of the links 60 is preferably made in sections (see Fig. 10) sliding one on the other to insure proper transmission of the power to the shafts of -the spike Wheels 57 and without danger ofbinding. g

On the peripheral fate of the wire feeding drum 20 is mounted a tension device having a nipple 71 screwed or otherwise fastened to the drum 20 (see Fig. 9). The

nipple 71 is provided with a bore 72'for the" a short angular guide pipe 74 for guiding v V the wire 22 to the tension device, The wlre 22 while passing through the bore 72 s pressed on by a rounded off end of a pm 75 mounted to slide in the nipple 71 and provided at its outer end with a crosshead 76 slidingly engaging bolts 77 screwing 1n the top of the nipple 71. Springs 78 are interposed between the crosshead 76an d the heads of the bolts 77 to force the pin 75 downward in frictional contact with the wire 22 so as to press the same against the bottom of the bore 72 with a view to give the desired tension to the wire prior to its passage onto the pipe 21. By adjusting the bolts 77 more or less tension can be given. to the springs 78. lit will be noticed that by this tension device the 'wire 22 is held under tension While being helically wound around the pipe 21 and consequently the wire is drawn tightly around the pipe to securely bind the staves in place and to reinforce the pi ie with a view to withstand the pressure of the liquid passing through the 1 e. p The wire 22 'unwinds from. a reel 80 mounted to rotate loosely on the forward end. of the wire-feeding drum 20. This reel 80 is constructed as follows: The hub 81 of the reel 8.0 is provided with an integral forward flange 82 and a removable 1 rangeinent described the reel 80 has a loose,

independent rotating movement on the rot'ating drum 20. The flange 83 is provided at its outer end with sprin arms 87 extending onto the peripheral ace of the other flange 82 so as to hold the wire from uncoil ingin the reel, and to insure proper feeding of the wire to the tension device 80, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2. In practice, the drum 20, the frame 25and the reel 80 are made in sections separated diametrically and provided with flanges bolted together so as to'permit of conveniently placing the several parts on the pipe 21 at any point in'the length thereof or for removlng the machine from the .pipe whenever it is desired to do so. Each a view to engage the wheel 23 with the pcripheral'face of the pipe 21. By this arrangement the drum 20 can be readily used on pipes 21 of difierent diameters. The bearing 90 by being adjustable in the plug 91 permits of settingh the wheel 23 at an angle to the axis of t e pipe to correspond t0 the pitch given to the wire 22 wound helically around the pipe 21. Thus the wheels also serve aS guide wheels for the feeding drum 20.

The operation is as follows:

When the machine is running and the gear wheel 26 is rotated either from the motor 30 or from the'hand wheel 31, as previously explained, then a rotary motion is given to the feeding drum 20 and at the same time 'a rotary motion is given tolthe several spike wheels 57 to move the frame 25 rearward in the direction of the arrowfa thus carrying the feeding drum. 20in the same direction and while the feeding drum is rotating. By this double movement of the feeding drum 20, the wire 22 is drawn firmly around the tube 21 in a helical direction and by varyin spring of the tension device "70 the wire can be drawn with more or less force around the pipe 21. It is understood that the distance between the convolutions of the helical wire around'the pipe.21 depends on the I speed with which the frame 25 is moved in the direction of the arrow a and by varying the size of the gear wheel 40 and using a corresponding bearing 42 the spike wheels can be rotated at a higher or a lower rate of speed to correspondingly vary the distance between adjacent convolutions of the wire on the pipe 21. In setting up the pipe 21 it is usual to precede the machine with the tension of the We tit temporary clamps 100 (see Fig. 1) to hold the staves in place as they are assembled until the machine approaches and winds the wire thereon.

The machine as shown in the drawing fits a pipe of an exterior diameter slightly less than the interior diameter of the drum 20 and in order to permit of using the machine on pipes of smaller diameters the plugs are screwed inward on the drum to engage the wheels 23 with the peripheral face of the smaller pipe,. and the spike wheels are changed for larger ones to engage the spikes with the smaller pipe. Thus the same machine can be used on: pipes of different diameters. By using different sized driving wheels the longitudinal traveling mqvement of the frame and drum can be changed without changing the speed of the rotation of the drum, thereby increasing or decreasing the pitch of the spiral wire around the pipe.

the drum circumferentially about the article, i

aframe surrounding the article, to which frame the drum is rotatably connected, and

article engaging means mounted on the. frame and driven from the drum for-moving the frame axially only of the article.

* 2. In a wire winding machine,,the combination of a wire feeding drum surrounding an article to be wound, means for rotating the drum circumferentially of the article, a frame surrounding the article and on which the drum is rotatably mounted, means carried by the frame for engaging the article to move the frame axially of the article, a driven gear on the drum rotatable relatively to the frame and connecting means between the gear and said frame carried article engaging means for driving the latter.

3. In a machine for winding wire about a pipe or other article, the combination of a w1re receiving drum on the article surrounding the same, means for rotating the drum about the article, a tubular frame on which the drum is mounted for rotation, progressing means mounted on the frame forimpartter from the former, a tension device mounted on said drum for directing the w1re tangentially onto the peripheral face of the article and drawing it tight thereon, and a.-

wire carrying reel rotatabl mounted upon the said drum and movable odily therewith.

4. A wire winding machine including a drumadapted to surround an article to be wound, means for rotating the drum around the article, a frame on which the drum is rotatably mounted, meanscarried by the "frame for driving the latter longitudinally of the article, transmission means between,

the drum and frame carried driving means for actuating the latter from the former,

, and wire feeding and tensioning devices mounted on the drum.

5. In a wire winding machine, the combination of a drum supported by and surrounding an article to be wound with wire and adapted to have a'helica'l motion around and along the said article, a tension device on said drum whereby resistance to the passage of the wire therethrough is obtained, a

frame surrounding said article, means for the frame whereby a helical motionof the drum relatively to the article is obtained.

6. In a wire winding machine, the combination of a drum surrounding an article to be wound with wire, a series of Wheels mounted in the drum and engaging the article whereby the drum is supported by the article and may have a helical motion of any pitch around and along the said article, a tension deviceon said drum whereby resistance to the passage of the Wire therethrough is obtained, a frame axially movable along said article, means mounted on said frame and engaging said drum whereby the drum may be rotated relatively thereto, and means for transmitting the axial motion of the frame to the drum whereby a helical motion of the drum relatively to the article is obtained.

7. In a wire winding machine, the combination of adrum supported by and surrounding an article to be wound with wire and adapted to have a helical motion around and along the said article, a wire holding spool mounted concentric with and supported by said drum and freely rotatable relatively thereto, atension device on said drum whereby resistance to the passage of the wire therethrough is obtained, a frame axially movable along said article, means mounted onsaid frame and engaging said drum whereby the drum may be rotated relatively thereto, and means for transmitting the axial motion of the frame to the drum whereby a helical motion of the drum relatively to the article is obtained.

8. In a wire winding machine, the combination of a drum supported by and surrounding an article to be Wound with wire and adapted to have a helical motion around and along the said article, a tension device on said drum whereby resistance to the passage of the wire therethrough is obtained, a non-rotatable frame, means mounted on said" frame and engaging said drum whereby the drum may be'rotated relatively thereto, means for moving said frame axially along the article, means for connecting the .drum rotating means with said frame-moving means whereby the motions take place in fixed relation to each other, and means 7 Y for transmitting the axial motion of the frame to the drum whereby a helical motion of'the drum relatively to the article is obtained.

9. In a Wire winding machine, the combination of a drum supported by and surrounding an article to be wound with wire and adapted to have a helical motion around and along said article, a tension device on said drum whereby resistance to the passage' the outer surface of the drum adjacent the frame, a second gear with connecting means article is prevented, a gear mounted around" mounted on the frame and engaging said gear on the drum and rotating said wheels when said drum gear is rotated relatively to the frame, and a driven pinion mounted on said frame and engaging and rotating said drum gear whereby the machine is propelled and operated to wind the wire on the article in a helical ath.

10. In a wire win ing machine, the combination of a drum supported by and surrounding an article to be wound with wire, and having a helical motion around and along said article, and adapted to wind wire thereon on a helical path, said drum having a groove formed around it near its forward end; of a spool, concentric with said drum and adjacent thereto, and a plurality of wheels engaging in said groove whereby said spool is supported by the drum and is free to rotate relatively thereto.

11. A wire winding machine including a wire receiving drum, means for rotating the drum circumferentially, a frame on which the drum is rotatably mounted, ar-

ticle engaging means carried by the frame whereby the frame may be driven axially, and transmission means between the drum and the said article engaging means.

12. In a machine for; winding wire around a pipe or other article, the combination of a tubular frame through which extends the article to be wound with wire, article engaging means carried by the frame for imparting a motion to the frame axially of the article, a wire receiving drum-rotatably mounted on the frame, means for rotating the said drum circumferentially, transmission means between the drum and the article engaging means for driving the said article engaging means from the drum, and a tension device mounted onthe drum for directa ing the wire tangentially onto the peripheral face of the article and drawing it tight thereon.

13. A wire winding machine including a wire receiving drum, means for rotating the same, a frame adapted to surround an article to be wound, and on which frame the drum is rotatablv mounted, spike wheels arranged at intervals around the frame and adapted to engage the article, a flexible shafting for simultaneously driving the 15 spike wheels, and transmission means between the drum and said flexible shafting. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. CHARLES L. VAN AMBURGH. Witnesses:

L. C. BEYER, A. D. ELDER. 

